28 October 2012 | Finnair‘s inflight product has always been efficient, clean and simple, perhaps seen by most as more ‘bland’ than ‘brand’. However, they have recently launched a brand new partnership with Finnish designer Marimekko to provide them with new table-wear and fabrics for their airline.

Marimekko’s simple and elegant retro prints are all about great splashes of colour and with this injection into the airline, they will bring the fun back to flying Finnair, targetting specifically their Asian routes.

Finnair earlier this month showed off their new Marimekko liveried A340, that is adorned with Maija Isola’s iconic ‘Unikko’ flower motif, currently flying Asia routes from Finland. In the spring, when the new in-flight products will be rolled out, a second Marimekko livery with join the long haul fleet.

Stated on the reveal of the new design partnership, “Finnair has a strong design heritage, and this cooperation brings our design thinking to a new level,” says Mika Vehviläinen, Finnair CEO. “Our goal is to become a design airline, and bring our customers unique experiences for all five senses. Cooperation with Marimekko is an important step towards this target. Finnair aircraft will become roving ambassadors of timeless Finnish design and creativity, giving our customers a special experience when they fly with us.”

They will eventually be selling limited edition Marimekko-Finnair products onboard, in a move recently taken by KLM with their design partnership with Hella Jongerius for their Wold Business Class cabin, also being launched next year.

The new pieces for Finnair, show only business class table-wear, is not clarified if it will distil into the economy cabin too, but we have to say we love these new pieces. Their fun retro appeal will fight the ‘grey flying’ (as coined by the CEO of Marimekko, Mika Ihamuotila) that many passengers are currently experiencing around the world. A little bit of fun in our eyes is always welcome.

TheDesignAir is a one stop site for all product and design related news and reviews in the aviation market. Covering latest seat offerings to trip reports, interviews with industry experts and competitions. Founder and editor, Jonny Clark is an aviation brand specialist, working with over 50 airline brands worldwide in his career. Originally entering the field as the Design Director for Ink Global, the world's largest inflight magazine publishers, he now consults within the field whilst also working as a commercial pilot in Europe. http://thedesignair.net